Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT has come up with a new name for gold panners as part of efforts to incorporate them into the

formal system.
Secretary for Mines and Mining Development, Mr Prince Mupazviriho said as a ministry they have adopted the word “artisanal miners” in place of gold panners or makorokoza.

He was addressing delegates at the launch of the Mining Development Fund in Bubi, Matabeleland North province, where several small scale miners received equipment from the fund.
“That is the term we now use; there is no more use of the word makorokoza or gold panners in our Ministry,” said Mr Mupazviriho.

“Our Minister, Dr (Obert) Mpofu has said no more use of that word and he has been supported by his deputy (Gift Chimanikire).”
He said it was wrong to criminalise people who are trying to earn a living.
“We can’t punish those who are trying to earn an honest living. So in our ministry the word is banned,” he said.
Earlier on Minister Mpofu said his Ministry would ensure that more gold buying centres are established to allow gold producers to sell their minerals on a no question asked basis.

He said Government was losing a lot of money by criminasing gold panners as they would end up selling the minerals abroad. Minister Mpofu said the law needs not be stringent as it would result in the fiscus losing money as gold producers are being criminalised.
He said his ministry would ensure that small-scale miners are helped by registering them and bringing them on the formal market.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zimbabwe Miners Federation chief executive officer, Mr Wellington Takavarasha lauded the Government for its initiative to incorporate gold panners into the formal system. He said this should mark the end of running battles between the gold panners and the police.
“They should not be called panners but miners,” he said.